You Paint The Walls

You paint the wall with focus,
covering the grime of the past
with a new patina of color
perfectly matched to your eyes.

Gray walls emerge
and the life lived between
and against those walls
fades into new hues of possibilities.

With even brush strokes
and a steady hand you paint and paint,
yet the color beneath is stubborn
and continues to prowl through your efforts.

Long into the night in shadowed light
you toil until you've masked the space
to your satisfaction, accepting that
striving for perfection is frustrating and foolish

because what was before can never really be undone
or covered completely, there will always be a dark mark
that seeps through high in the corners,  your only option
is to view it all from a different perspective.

I watch you paint the walls and I love you for even trying.

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

turning the past into the colors to paint anew ... i think there is a lot of living in "You Paint The Walls"
i love love love the positive ending .. i get this sense of a lot of hardship in this poem .. and the support and acceptance is marvelous .. lots of other directions this could have gone ..nice work .. " ...prowls through your efforts" .. fantastic!!
E.

[A. Amos]

This is interesting and mesmerizing piece, simply beautiful

[icelandicblue]

What we cannot paint over we must simply live with. Thank you A.

[A. Amos]

Agree and you're most welcome...

[Ambra Celeste]

Very meaningful this poem. We are better off accepting our past, it was what it was. Those hard to cover marks are the lessons we learnt and we always have the option to choose the colour we want to use next. :))

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Ambra.

[Bright Ocean Star]

I don't know if I've reviewed this one already, but I just love the metaphor of the paintbrush on a wall as a meaning of your life's work. Is that correct? I don't know, but that was flying through my head as I read it. Very very nice writing, Icelandicblue!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for such a kind review.

[Baby Ricochet]

There's always going to be marks seeping through no matter how much undercoat you use. Great piece Blue

[icelandicblue]

That is true. Thanks for your comments.

[Deuces]

You're a master at simile, analogy and metaphor. This was stunning work. It is true that what is done cannot be undone. If one chooses to reapproach, it must be done with a new set of eyes and perspective. Written flawlessly with a unique style.

[icelandicblue]

I truly appreciate that, thank you.

[sakshi arora]

its a very touching poem yet very pragmatic nice work i like simple poem and this is one :) i j really liked it

[icelandicblue]

I appreciate your kind words, thank you.

[sakshi arora]

ur welcome

[kublakhan27]

I hear all the time that the colours of one's home says much about their personality. It sounds like personalities are taking shape here, or evolving, maybe that's a more fitting description. But yes, there are always those dark marks in the corners, and yet without knowing the negative we can never fully understand or enjoy the positives. I was sufficiently enthralled by this metaphor, and the closing line, which suggests a certain peace...maybe this couple had a difference of opinion on the choice of colours, but there is love in the very act of trying. Sadly it doesn't kill my cynicism on such matters (haha) but I was still able to take a measure of hope from your words here. A lovely and thoughtful piece Anne, with a deep understanding of the dynamics of a relationship, particularly an evolving one.

[icelandicblue]

Relationships are fluid and we chose our colors carefully, sometimes they complement and other times they clash. And sometimes we just start over again with a new color. Thanks so much for your feedback. You are always a pleasure to 'talk" to.

[Pryde Foltz]

because what was before can never really be undone
or covered completely, there will always be a dark mark
that seeps through high in the corners, your only option
is to view it all from a different perspective.

I watch you paint the walls and I love you for even trying.

Try, try, try is the best we can do and sometimes unexpected masterpieces are stumbled upon.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Pryde for such a lovely review.

[Ruth]

Stunning perception here...the past can only be that, the past, some stains wear thin but are there to remain, does it stop us trying? No...brilliant work and beautifully voiced x

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Poppy. I appreciate that.